Enea Bastianini took victory in MotoGP’s British Grand Prix sprint for his first Saturday podium as Ducati team-mate Pecco Bagnaia and Gresini’s Marc Marquez crashed out.
The factory Ducati rider lined up third for Saturday’s race, and took advantage of a strong start to take the fight to Pramac’s Jorge Martin.
The pair jostled for position for much of the race, swapping places several times after Bagnaia had crashed out at The Loop while running behind them on lap five.
BAGNAIA BLUNDERS 🤯@PeccoBagnaia has crashed out just as he was beginning to close in! 💥#BritishGP 🇬🇧 pic.twitter.com/VXDWhyPmms
— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) August 3, 2024
Bastianini ultimately emerged in front of Martin. He was quickly able to take advantage of his trademark late-race pace to cross the line a second clear.
Marquez was running in fourth when he crashed out at the end of lap eight, tucking the front at Vale. He rejoined but entered the pits the following lap.
Bastianini’s victory ensures Bagnaia holds onto the championship lead by just one point from Martin ahead of Sunday’s grand prix.
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Martin had a strong start from fourth, moving quickly into the lead off the line, as Bastianini took second ahead of poleman Aleix Espargaro and Bagnaia.
Further back, there was drama at Turn 1 as Pramac’s Franco Morbidelli slid off, taking out fellow VR46 Academy member Marco Bezzecchi, while Trackhouse Aprilia rider Raul Fernandez narrowly missed the incident but had his race compromised.
This incident at the start between @FrankyMorbido12 and Bezzecchi is under investigation ⚠️#BritishGP 🇬🇧 pic.twitter.com/cavvvZ8QPl
— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) August 3, 2024
The yellow flags were waved for several laps while the bikes and debris were cleared. Morbidelli limped away from the site of the incident and Bezzecchi headed to the medical centre, but both were declared fit to continue with the weekend.
The incident will be investigated after the race.
Aprilia rider Maverick Vinales lost out at the start, dropping from seventh to 11th and benefitting Pedro Acosta (GasGas), who made up several places.
But Acosta soon suffered contact from KTM’s Brad Binder at Brooklands, who ran wide before colliding with the GasGas rider as he headed back onto the racing line, with both bikes damaged.
It's CHAOS at the start of lap 2! 🤯#BritishGP 🇬🇧 pic.twitter.com/ssCUZvpOBl
— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) August 3, 2024
By lap three, Bagnaia had dropped away from the leading trio as Bastianini closed on Martin, with things then getting worse for the reigning champion as he received a track limits warning.
The top four had closed next time round before Bagnaia crashed out, marking his fourth sprint DNF this season after Jerez, Le Mans and Catalunya.
On lap six, Bastianini and Martin tussled for the lead, with the factory rider taking the lead at Copse, losing out at Maggotts and Becketts before regaining the front spot at Stowe.
The Beast leads! 🔥@Bestia23 pinches it off @88jorgemartin! ⚔️#BritishGP 🇬🇧 pic.twitter.com/lTOry6F1Vh
— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) August 3, 2024
Marquez crashed out of fourth on lap nine, with his second sprint DNF in the last three races, having tucked the front heading downhill into Vale.
Fourth place GONE! 😮@marcmarquez93 makes a late mistake! 💥#BritishGP 🇬🇧 pic.twitter.com/DWPOA4mgEy
— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) August 3, 2024
Out front, Bastianini was now 0.8s clear, increasing that to a second as he crossed the start-finish line ahead of Martin and Espargaro in third.
Binder took fourth ahead of Acosta despite their earlier contact - which cost Binder his rear wing and Acosta the left-side winglets on his front fairing - with Alex Marquez in sixth for Gresini.
Jack Miller - the only rider in the field to pick the medium rear instead of the conventional choice of soft - was seventh for KTM after passing Vinales on the final lap, with VR46 rider Fabio Di Giannantonio, who was forced to take a long lap penalty for exceeding track limits, rounding off the points-paying positions.
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